Parents' Perceptions of Student Academic Motivation During the COVID-19 Lockdown: A Cross-Country Comparison
Sonia Zaccoletti1, Ana Camacho2,3, Nadine Correia4
1Department of Developmental and Socialization Psychology, University of Padova, Padua, Italy.
Frontiers in Psychology
|January 4, 2021
Summary
COVID-19 restrictions decreased academic motivation in Italian and Portuguese students, with extracurricular activities buffering this decline. Older students experienced less motivation loss during school closures.
Area of Science:
- Education
- Psychology
- Public Health
Background:
- The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated widespread home confinement, school closures, and the implementation of distance learning globally.
- These measures significantly impacted the educational experiences and well-being of students, teachers, and parents worldwide.
- Understanding the effects on academic motivation is crucial for developing supportive educational strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the impact of COVID-19 restrictions on the academic motivation of Italian and Portuguese students.
- To investigate the potential buffering effect of extracurricular activities on academic motivation during the pandemic.
- To compare changes in academic motivation between Italian and Portuguese students.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective pretest-posttest design was employed, collecting data from 567 parents of students in grades 1 to 9.
- Parental reports on children's academic motivation and participation in extracurricular activities were analyzed.
- A multi-group latent change score model was used to compare motivation changes between Italian and Portuguese students.
Main Results:
- A decrease in academic motivation was observed in both Italian and Portuguese students, with a more pronounced decline in Italian students.
- Reduced participation in extracurricular activities was associated with a greater decrease in academic motivation.
- Older students showed a smaller decrease in motivation compared to younger students; gender and parental education were not significant factors.
Conclusions:
- COVID-19 restrictions led to a decline in student academic motivation, particularly in Italy, highlighting the need for targeted interventions.
- Maintaining participation in extracurricular activities can help mitigate the negative impact of such restrictions on academic motivation.
- Educational strategies should focus on enhancing student motivation, especially during periods of disruption like pandemics or health emergencies.
Keywords:
COVID-19 pandemicacademic motivationcross-country comparisondistance learningextracurricular activitieshome confinementparents’ perceptionsschool closuresMore Related Videos
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